For those of you who don't know, I am currently 16 years old and am still going through some changes involved with puberty. I have also recently given up masturbation, and have successfully gone a week, less a day, without doing so.

I have had wet dreams before, prior to beginning masturbating; and now that I have stopped masturbating, I have noticed that the wet dreams that (I thought) had gone away are returning.

Frequently, in my dreams, I begin masturbating, and when I wake up I notice I have ejaculated; and I am unsure if this is considered a mortal sin (or a sin at all).

I know that, in order for a sin to take place, there must be:1) Full knowledge that what I am doing is wrong,2) Grave matter; that sinful act and3) Full consent; my permission/me intentionally committing the action.

The reason I am a little concerned is that, I feel all three areas have been satisfied.

In my dream, I was aware of what was happening; and knew that masturbating was wrong.

There was also the act of masturbating in my dream (which may fulfill the second area - grave matter), and I began doing it intentionally.

I know that all of this happened in my dream, but all three requirements for a sin to happen have been met.

I am just unsure if, because it was in a dream and not really my fault (as I was asleep), it counts as a mortal sin.

You aren't responsible for what you do in your dreams, even if it feels like you have free will. If you deliberately did something to provoke the dreams, like watching prurient material before going to bed, you might be responsible, but not otherwise.

Prior to going to sleep (maybe about an hour before), I was watching a television show with a very brief "romantic scene"; part of the woman's breast was visible, and the man and woman were kissing but the scene only lasted for a few seconds, and the show changed to another storyline.

I would suggest doing your best to avoid such material, especially while you're still trying to break the habit (a week is a good start, but you're not there yet), regardless of whether it fits a strict definition of prurient. I realize that restricts your TV viewing choices considerably.

You are correct. It doesn't sound as if it would normally constitute grave matter, and perhaps not be sinful at all, but we do have the obligation to avoid occasions of sin, even if the occasion itself is not morally bad. In this case, since you didn't see it coming, you aren't responsible.

I had the same issue. I have quit masturbating for almost three months now and have been doing very well with it. I frequently have wet dreams and it can be very inconvenient, like when I'm taking a nap at school. :/ Every night I pray not to have sinful, violent, sexual, or wet dreams, and I pray not to sleepwalk because I do that sometimes. Well last night I had another wet dream, but this one was different than the others. Most of the time I don't remember the dream, but last night, in the dream I began to watch pornography and masturbate. In the dream I knew it was wrong, thought about it, and consented to continue masturbating until I ejaculated. At that moment, in the dream, I felt the Holy Spirit leave me. In the dream I immediately felt horrible and started to pray for forgiveness, and that's when I woke up. I was relieved to realize it was a dream, but disturbed to find that it was a wet dream and that the feeling of the absence of the Holy Spirit was still present. I felt horrible. I feel like I committed a mortal sin because all three of the conditions were met, but they were met in a dream. Help me out, did I commit a mortal sin? Did I commit a venial sin?

Extra Info: Absolutely NO prurient material was viewed before I went to sleep, and no lustful or lust provoking thoughts were going around in my head (I try to keep those out of my mind at all times).

You certainly did not commit a mortal sin. While there can be some measure of control in "lucid dreaming" one is not connected with reality and cannot be saud to have true and full use of his reason. Much of the control felt in such dreams is illusory as well

You aren't responsible for what you do in your dreams, even if it feels like you have free will. If you deliberately did something to provoke the dreams, like watching prurient material before going to bed, you might be responsible, but not otherwise.

Wouldn't it be more correct to say that one is responsible for watching the prurient material, but not for the dreams?

_________________Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο

“Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt.” — Paul Tillich

If the dreams were an intended and desired consequence of viewing the material (say that someone did not wish to masturbate directly and thought this would be a way to avoid the sinfulness connected with it), then the person would be morally responsible for that intended and desired consequence.

If the dreams were an intended and desired consequence of viewing the material (say that someone did not wish to masturbate directly and thought this would be a way to avoid the sinfulness connected with it), then the person would be morally responsible for that intended and desired consequence.

Right. It is the same reasoning by which we are responsible for our actions when we get deliberately drunk, or are willfully ignorant

If the dreams were an intended and desired consequence of viewing the material (say that someone did not wish to masturbate directly and thought this would be a way to avoid the sinfulness connected with it), then the person would be morally responsible for that intended and desired consequence.

Right. It is the same reasoning by which we are responsible for our actions when we get deliberately drunk, or are willfully ignorant

In my experience it is very difficult to make oneself have a particular dream....

If the dreams were an intended and desired consequence of viewing the material (say that someone did not wish to masturbate directly and thought this would be a way to avoid the sinfulness connected with it), then the person would be morally responsible for that intended and desired consequence.

Right. It is the same reasoning by which we are responsible for our actions when we get deliberately drunk, or are willfully ignorant

In my experience it is very difficult to make oneself have a particular dream....

A particular dream, sure. But one can jumpkick the type of dream, either by watching pruient material or daydreaming about such stuff as they lay down to sleep. I know I have went to bed, and before sleeping imagined/day dreamed things and as I fell asleep my dreams took of from there...usually world conquest if you have to know

For those of you who don't know, I am currently 16 years old and am still going through some changes involved with puberty. I have also recently given up masturbation, and have successfully gone a week, less a day, without doing so.

I have had wet dreams before, prior to beginning masturbating; and now that I have stopped masturbating, I have noticed that the wet dreams that (I thought) had gone away are returning.

Frequently, in my dreams, I begin masturbating, and when I wake up I notice I have ejaculated; and I am unsure if this is considered a mortal sin (or a sin at all).

I know that, in order for a sin to take place, there must be:1) Full knowledge that what I am doing is wrong,2) Grave matter; that sinful act and3) Full consent; my permission/me intentionally committing the action.

The reason I am a little concerned is that, I feel all three areas have been satisfied.

In my dream, I was aware of what was happening; and knew that masturbating was wrong.

There was also the act of masturbating in my dream (which may fulfill the second area - grave matter), and I began doing it intentionally.

I know that all of this happened in my dream, but all three requirements for a sin to happen have been met.

I am just unsure if, because it was in a dream and not really my fault (as I was asleep), it counts as a mortal sin.

Please let me know as soon as possible.

Many thanks,livingthefaith

My dear friend in Christ;

GREAT effort. keep up the good work.

God is Good; Fair and Just

God made you the way you are and God's plan is Perfect even if we don't understand or at times agree with it.

Wet-Dreams are an "act of nature" brought on by God's design. Therefore NOT sinful unless encouraged.

Mastrubation however is always a very serious sin. why?

Because its self-centered and personal gradification and Because it opposes the very reason for our sexuality which is for marriage. And within marriage a reward for being open [as it must be] to the possibility of birth.

A second reason is the "unity" of the married couple. I call it "marriage cement."

God will, if we ask and persevere, give each of us the grace to live our vocation.